Posted on 02/23/2024 1:02:35 PM PST by fwdude
I find the popular serving recommendations for a healthy diet both unrealistic and vague to the point of uselessness.
For instance, the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet recommends 'four to five servings each of fruits and vegetables, six servings of whole grains, and two or three servings of low-fat dairy per day.' Other dietary recommendations push seven to eight 'servings' of fruits and vegetables per day.
So, what in the HELL is a "serving?" We're almost never told. Regardless, how can anyone fit that much food, much less just fruits and vegetables into their belly in a day? That's untenable in my book.
Even if you had a fruit for breakfast, two veggies for lunch, and 3 for supper (including a salad), that would still put you two behind for the day. And that's on a GOOD DAY.
Diets this extreme aren't sustainable. In other words, they'll fail.
Any thoughts?
I don't, but that's not the point. The point is do they even listen to themselves? Does what they're saying even sound rational or doable to THEM?
if hypertension / blood pressure is your concern and they didn’t tell you to drop your sodium below 1500mg per day then you need new docs.
lower sodium.
more exercise.
keep everything moving (fruit can help here).
Experience!
By coincidence, I just finished drinking an 11.5-oz can of V8. The label says that a serving of the juice itself is one can, but it also says "1 can has 2 full servings (1 cup) of vegetables. Dietary Guidelines recommend 2 1/2 cups of a variety of vegetables per day for a 2,000 calorie diet." Don't know how accurate that is, but it's what Campbell's Soup Company claims.
Not really something I worried about once I got out of elementary school. But the reality is their “servings” are actually really small. Your average bagel is like 4 servings of grain. So once you work that math around the “recommended” diet is actually fairly sensible. Although what normal person looks at a bagel and see 4 servings?
Cheetos gives me all the nutrition I need. 😉
It’s really simple: Avoid all processed food.
Because of the salt...I now buy V8 Black Cherry energy drink...65 gr sodium...and great taste.
Make yourself a nice salad every day...lettuce tomatoes cucumber chick peas cheese chunks hard boiled eggs...black olives and/or Reese's artichokes for a treat and of course a few croutons.
Yup, that’s basically it. Servings are tiny.
fwdude wrote: “You just cannot eat all the fruits and vegetables that are required. Not unless a ‘serving” is like 2 ounces.”
That’s about right. Most servings are around 100-120 calories.
The FDA works for big ag - not for you. It is about the money flowing - not your health.
Just watch out for Listeria & Salmonella and you’ll be fine ; )
You see the picture of the toothbrush loaded with a thick line of toothpaste on the product label. But the truth is you only need a half pea-sized dollop of toothpaste on your toothbrush to be effective. But they want you to use us the tube a.s.a.p.
Just eat healthy. Avoid processed foods. There is no magic formula. We all die eventually. But I want to be healthy is why I eat healthy.
The problem isn’t the serving size, the problem is the sedentary lifestyle we lead. We used to walk to the bus, or walk to work etc. we worked with our hands, our bodies were always in motion, and 2 eggs, a couple strips of bacon, toast with butter was the normal breakfast. We had meat maybe 3 times a week, fish one day, the others we mac and cheese, spaghetti etc
Don’t forget cocaine, Tab, and Marlboro Lights.
Ignore the food pyramid OR turn it upside down. Eat lots of meat, eggs & cheese and don’t worry about “servings. Eat until full and then don’t eat until hungry.
You don’t NEED veggies, fruit or fiber. If you like it and don’t eat it constantly (most modern fruit has a lot of sugar), it is OK.
The best way to eat is however your body can tolerate certain foods. In my case, I can’t tolerate dairy unless it’s lactose free. I can barely eat an apple without it causing me tremendous gastric upset.
Largest meal at breakfast, smaller meal for lunch and a snack-like portion for dinner. Stick to lean meats like fish, turkey, chicken and other seafoods like salmon, tuna, shrimp, and crawfish. (unprocessed). Whatever vegetables you personally can tolerate, and the same with fruits. Try to cut out as much bread, sugary drinks, desserts, chips as you can or altogether. Pasta is ok if it’s whole grain, otherwise it’s like glue in your gut.
Even with this, the exact moment you feel full, put the fork down and store the rest in the fridge or chunk it if you’re out and about. Don’t store food in a warm vehicle and think it’s still ok to eat. It’s not.
Drink three 20 ounce bottles of water or four 16.? ounce bottles of water (64 ounces) per day. This will keep your blood from becoming too thick and help digest food better. It will also help you sleep better and burn more fat as you sleep. Yes, you burn fat as you sleep. No joke.
If everyone else at a gathering is eating BBQ, hot dogs, etc. but that stuff makes you barf or want to, DONT EAT IT. It’s not good for you anyway. Not even in moderation. Don’t feel guilty bringing your own stuff to eat, only you have to deal with how sick you’re going to feel, the duration.
Just eat how YOU know you can eat and tolerate. You’ll feel so much better, more energetic, no more brain fog and sleep like a kitten.
And beloved, if you smoke or drink, do your very best to cut down and finally quit, and get help with a support group or family or church. Did I mention that sugar can be an addiction as well as overeating? Yeppers. There’s help for that too.
I’ll keep y’all in my prayers. God’s got you.
Why try to get protein from vegetable sources?
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